Freight car loading apparatus



July 5, 1938. G. M. REIFER FREIGHT CAR LOADING APPARATUS Filed March 25,1957 [fr/28 a 52 'l Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-iceFREIGHT OAR LOADING APPARATUS Application March 25, 1937, Serial No.132,933

9 Claims.

This invention relates to bracing means for securing freight in box carsand the like, and has to do particularly with an adjustable support forstanchions between which braces are adapted to be secured to hold theload in place in the car.

According to this invention the stanchions are provided with extensibleand retractable ends having portions adapted to interlock with guidessecured adjacent the top and bottom of the side walls of the car.' Bywithdrawing the ends of the stanchion they may be readily removed andengaged in any desired position along the guides to enable the braces tobe positioned to fit the load being carried. Details of the inventionare described in the following specification and the accompanyingdrawing in which Figure 1 is a side view of a box car showing theimproved stanchion adjustably mounted therein. Figure 2 is a section online 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure l. Figure 5 is a perspectiveview illustrating the toothed engagement of the stanchion and guide. I0and I2 indicate guides secured adjacent the ntop and bottom of the sidewalls of the box car, and extending lengthwise thereof. Each of theseguides consists of a channel member I4 or I4 having teeth I6 secured tothe inner side walls.

These teeth may be formed on separate bar-like members I'I, welded orotherwise secured to the sides of the channel. The teeth I6 are providedalong the full length of both guides.

I8 indicates a stanchion in the form of a channel shaped member as shownin Figure 4. In the end of each channel there is slidably mounted anextension 20 or 20 adapted to be projected outwardly of the channel andhaving at opposite sides of its normally exposed end teeth 22 adapted tointerit with the teeth I6 of the channels. The upper member 2U ispreferably held in extended position by coil spring 24 seating on flange28 which may be formed out of the metal of the channel or be constitutedby a plate welded in position. In the case of the lower extension 20 nospring is required for gravity serves to hold it in place, the 'channelmember being supported by the edges of the bars I 1 or equivalentabutments. The Shanks of the extensions 20, 2li' are preferably providedwith sockets 26 adapted to be engaged by suitable tools 28 forconvenience in retracting or extending the parts.

The stanchions I8 are preferably of channel section as shown in Figure4, and are adapted to support plates 32 adjustably clamped along thelength of the channel by means of bolts 34 passing through them andengaging plates 36 lying within the channel. Plates 32 support braces 38which are adapted to engage the freight.

It will be clear that this arrangement provides a simple and positivemounting for the stanchions, and enables the braces to be positionedanywhere along the length of the car. The construction is simple andinexpensive.

The invention is susceptible of considerable modification. Thus ifdesired both of stanchion extensions may be provided with springs urgingthem outwardly. If desired the teeth may be provided on one side only ofthe channel and extension, although the illustrated arrangement ispreferred owing to the heavy shocks to which such bracing is oftensubjected. Various other modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art.

I claim:

1. In load bracing apparatus for freight cars the combination ofchannel-shaped guides secured adjacent the top and bottom of the sidewalls of, a car and extending longitudinally thereof, said guides havingtheir channels facing each other, stanchions, extensions slidablymounted in opposite ends of the stanchions and having portions adaptedto project into the channels, said portions and the channels havingparts adapted to interlock and prevent displacement of the stanchions,said interlocking parts having their engaging portions extendinglongitudinally of the stanchion so as to prevent displacement of thestanchion longitudinally of the car.

2. In load bracing apparatus for freight cars the combination ofchannel-shaped guides secured adjacent the top and bottom of the sidewalls of a car and extending longitudinally thereof, said guides havingtheir channels facing each other, stanchions, extensions slidablymounted in opposite ends of the stanchions and having portions adaptedto project into the channels, said portions and the channels havingparts adapted to interlock and prevent displacement of the stanchions,said interlocking parts having their engaging portions extendinglongitudinally of the stanchion so as to prevent displacement of thestanchion longitudinally of the car, g means for yieldingly urging oneof said extensions out of the stanchions.

3. In load bracing apparatus for freight cars the combination of achannel-shaped guide provided with a series of teeth on opposite sidewalls of the channel, a stanchion, an extension slidably mounted in oneend of the stanchion having teeth on opposite sides thereof adapted tointerlock with the teeth on the channel wall, both of said sets of teethhaving their engaging portions extending longitudinally of the stanchionto prevent displacement of the stanchion longitudinally of the car.

4. In load bracing apparatus for freight cars the combination ofchannel-shaped guides securediadjacent the top and bottom of the sidewalls of a car and extending longitudinally thereof, said guides havingtheir channels facing each other, said guides being provided with aseries of teeth on corresponding inner side walls, a stanchion, andteeth on the sides of the ends of the stanchion adapted to interlockwith the teeth on the guides. both of said sets of teeth having theirengaging portions extending longitudinally of the stanchion to preventdisplacement of the stanchion longitudinally of the car.

5. In load bracing apparatus for freight cars the combination ofchannel-shaped guides secured adjacent the top and bottom of the sidewalls of a car and extending longitudinally thereof, said guides havingtheir channels facing each other, said guides being provided with aseries of teeth on corresponding inner side walls, a stanchion,extensions slidably mounted in the ends of the stanchion, and teeth onthe sides of the extensions adapted to interlock with the teeth on theguides, both of said sets of teeth having their engaging portionsextending longitudinally of the stanchion to prevent displacement of thestanchion longitudinally of the car.

6. In load bracing apparatus for freight cars the combination of channelforming guides secured adjacent the top and bottom of the side Walls ofa car and extending longitudinally thereof, said guides having theirchannels facing each other, said guides being provided on their innerside walls with a series of teeth, a stanchion, and teeth on the sidesof the ends of the stanchion interlocking with the teeth on the guide,both of said sets of teeth having their engaging portions extendinglongitudinally of the stanchion to prevent displacement of the stanchionlongitudinally of the car.

7. In the combination as defined in claim 6, said stanchion havingextensible and retractable ends and the teeth formed on said ends.

8. Stanchions for use in bracing loads in freight cars, havingchannel-shape in cross-section, and a slidably mounted extensicn fittedin said channel and adapted to beprojected beyond the end thereof, saidextension being provided with teeth on one side of said projectingportion. said teeth extending longitudinally of the stanchion.

9. Stanchions for use in bracing loads in freight cars, havingchannel-shape in cross-section, and a slidably mounted extension fittedin said channel and adapted to be projected beyond the end thereof, saidextension being provided with teeth on opposite sides of said projectingportion, said teeth extending longitudinally of the stanchion.

GEORGE M. REITER.

